Rep. Henry Cuellar hails US-Mexico deal on trucks

A South Texas Democrat is welcoming a U.S.-Mexico deal on the touchy issue of long distance Mexican trucks delivering goods deep inside the United States.

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said the agreement is “great news for Texas producers and an important step to more open, transparent and efficient trade” between the neighboring countries.

The deal announced by President Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon calls for permitting Mexican trucks that meet U.S. highway safety standards to cross into the United States to deliver goods beyond the border region.

In return, Mexico will start to lift punitive tariffs that were imposed in response to U.S. violations of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Half Mexico’s retaliatory tariffs will be lifted immediately with the other half lifted as Mexican trucks phase in long-distance deliveries.

“This agreement is one more way to create jobs and drive the U.S economy,” Cuellar said. “Everyday, more than $1 billion in goods move across the U.S.-Mexico border. This historic and important agreement has far-reaching implications that will benefit both countries for years to come.”

The agreement calls for Mexico to allow U.S. cargo trucks to travel into Mexico and establishment of a reciprocal, phased-in pilot program to allow Mexican trucks to operate inside the United States.

The Mexican trucks will have to comply with a series of safety and driver skills and language tests monitored by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The remaining 50 percent of Mexico’s tariffs will be lifted when the first Mexican carrier receives authorization under the new program. The Office of U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, a former mayor of Dallas, has responsibility for ensuring that Mexico lifts the tariffs as promised.